Golden Bee — Restaurant in Colorado Springs

I cannot recommend this restaurant. We came here today to try and eat and didn't even get to that point sadly. We were recommended here by a local so we made our way over. Upon arrival we were excited as the parking was empty and it had accessible parking that was available. The outside looked amazing and the entry as well. That was where the good stopped and the bad started. From the moment my family and I entered we were greeted with smirks and looks of disapproval from the staff at the entry.

Approximately 4 staff members all sitting at the host stand chatting and giving us foul looks as we entered when they saw us. No one greeted us till I walked up and asked for a table. We walked up and saw 2 tables seated in an otherwise empty and barren dining room. Google showed it as less busy than usual and it was very much so correct. In the entire restaurant there were 3 tables of folks seated. We asked for a table and were told we would have to be sat outside as they had many reservations. In the process of telling us they continued with the foul looks and the woman telling us continued to hesitate in telling us as she did. We accepted the accommodations understanding they might just be that busy.

When we went upstairs is when we could truly see how empty downstairs dining was. Upstairs only 1 table was seated and all other tables were empty. We were taken to a 4 ft tall table while we have a 1 yr old and 3 yr old with us. We kindly asked for a lower table pointing to one readily available. We were told this was not available and was reserved. We asked if any other were available and our host stated none were. Mind you at 4:30PM on a Saturday 3 tables in the entire restaurant, a whopping 9 people, were seated.

At that point we stated we would just go ahead and go elsewhere and left. While leaving the host stand staff never attempted to ask what was wrong or why we were leaving. The host behind us smirked off as we walked out "they didn't like their seat!" with a tone I can only describe as snooty or disapproving as if we were a charity and they were doing us a favor by seating us in their empty restaurant.

If this is how guests are treated because they have kids or do not fit the mold of staff it won't be around for much longer. I am very disappointed in this restaurant and it's staff for how they acted coming from experience in the service industry before making it where I am now. I would never have treated a guest like we were treated regardless of opinions or feelings.

The restaurant is not easily seen from the road but gps leads you to it. Parking is minimal and they have 2 accessible parking spots. The entry is not accessible friendly nor is the bulk of the restaurant. Lighting is low and dimly lit even in lunch hours. Chairs and such seemed to be stiff and re enforcing of an eat and get out style of restaurant. Similar to parking benches designed for discomfort to...

I’m giving this place a 3-star rating, which feels a bit generous but closer to accurate than a 2. My wife and I went out for lunch recently, and while we had a relaxed and enjoyable time together, there were significant issues that need addressing.

Starting with the positives: our server, Nicole, was absolutely fantastic and made our midday meal enjoyable. She was engaging and fun to talk to, and honestly, if I were in charge, she’d definitely deserve a raise. The main bartender was knowledgeable and polite, and I appreciated the effort the staff put into their upscale attire. However, it seemed like they were pulling their uniforms from a rack in the back, as the fits were often off. Even who appeared to be the manager looked quite uncomfortable in her oversized suit. If someone has been working there for over three months, it’s reasonable to expect a properly fitting uniform.

Now onto the food. We ordered fish and chips, as well as a burger. The fish was excellent, but the portions were laughably small for the $30 price tag. I was disappointed not to see any proper fish sauce or dipping sauce included. For $30, I could have gone to the British food company and received a portion five times the size along with a liter of beer for the same price. My wife ordered a $25 burger that, frankly, was worth about $6. It was tiny, fitting comfortably in one hand, and unfortunately, the order was completely wrong.

To clarify, Nicole wasn’t the one who took our order; we had moved after ordering once we learned the terrace was open. Nicole did a great job once we were seated, but the cheeseburger my wife ordered medium well came out medium rare at best, with red juices flowing out. While I personally don’t mind a bit of pink, my wife prefers her burgers cooked thoroughly, and this was a significant error. Additionally, she had asked for no pickles or onions, but her burger arrived topped with both.

For dessert, we opted for the apple pie served in a skillet with vanilla ice cream. It was delicious, but the crust was undercooked and doughy, which detracted from the overall experience.

In total, we ordered two lunches, a dessert, a beer, and a non-alcoholic drink, which came to a staggering $115 after mandatory gratuity. I won’t delve into my feelings about the absurd gratuity practices these days—20% for two people—and then being asked to tip on top of that. It feels outrageous to pay such steep prices for food that wasn’t prepared correctly. I understand this is a resort, but higher standards are expected, especially at these prices.

Ultimately, if it weren’t for Nicole being such an excellent waitress, I would be hard-pressed to return. Charging exorbitant prices for mediocre food simply isn’t acceptable, and establishments like this should strive for a...

TLDR: Decent food but an overall poor experience.

This review is for our lunch experience of 5/23/24.

The Atmosphere of the pub was the best thing this place had going for it on our visit. The old bar with wood accents was quite nice with the exception of one really small TV that had tennis on. If people are going to watch sports they better hope they can all agree on what game to watch.

The food was decent, if it was half the price I would say it was good. Our order included French onion soups, Polenta wedges, two Bee burgers, two fish and chips, and an assortment of drinks. The Polenta wedges and French onion soups were the highlights of the dining experience. Our fish and chips (when the second one finally arrived, see below) seem overly cooked to where the batter would almost slide off the piece of cod. The burgers were just regular ole steak house burgers.

The service. This is what really soured the experience for us. After we were sat and our server came over she asked us if we had dined there before. After answering no she explained that it was tradition to throw Bee stickers on people's shirts. When questioned as to why they did this or what the tradition was the answer given was, "I really don't know, we just do it." Off to a good start. Next, it took about ten minutes between ordering our beers and getting them to the table. After that we placed our food orders. Food came out lightning fast which included our entrees showing up two minutes after our apps hit the table which made for a crowded table. Speaking of entrees, my guest's fish and chips did not make it on the drop off. All we were told is that there was a mix up and they would have it out quickly. Approx 10 minutes later it arrived with other members at the table having let their food sit or were more than half way through it. To make up for it they did offer that guest a free dessert which funnily enough arrived with a Happy Anniversary chocolate on it which was dropped off by a different enthusiastic waitress who thought we were celebrating. I'm guessing ours rang it in that way to avoid it being charged.

Lastly, the cost. Our fish and chips were charged as $39 a piece even though that was not what the menu had them listed as ($28). My guest is still going to call to fix this as we noticed it after the bill was cleared. Also, be aware of the automatic service charge. For the service we received its a crime they were tipped so well.

Overall, I would never return here nor will I be bringing guests from out of town again. You'd be better off going to literally any other pub in town (Jack Quinn'ss, Abby's) and you could probably eat there twice for what you...